Analysis of the three‐dimensional lymphatic architecture of the periodontal tissue using a new 3D reconstruction method

Abstract

Few studies of lymphatic vessels have been reported because diacrisis of this vascular system is rare. A complete examination of diacrisis of venula is not yet possible even using recent enzyme-histochemical or immunohistochemical techniques. In this study, we examined a lymphatic vessel by serial sectioning from the afferent lymphatic of the lymph node to the periphery by three-dimensional observation using a three-dimensional reconstitution method. This method was conventional and accurate, and the time required for processing was markedly reduced by using a computer. Reconstitution of the vasculature became possible utilizing the entire section instead of a portion of a parenchymatous organ. We examined the lymphatic vessel architecture of various oral regions, including gingiva, tongue, and the floor of the mouth, using this method. In the future, using this method, we plan to investigate the alteration of lymphatic vessel architecture in a pathological region, and correlate these changes with the dynamics of lymphatic vessel absorption.

Lymphatic architecture of human periodontal tissue beneath the oral epithelium of the free gingiva

“…sels have mainly been limited to experimental animals [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]34) . Recent advances in staining methods for identification of lymphatic vessels include the use of 5'-Nase in enzyme histochemical staining [23][24][25][26]35) , and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), podoplanin, D2-40, prox-1, lymphatic vessel hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) and angiopoietin-2 in immunohistochemical staining [35][36][37][38] .…”

“…In addition, clinical lymphography can be used for diagnostic purposes 39,40) . However, to date, only animal studies have focused on the local architecture of capillary lymphatic vessels [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] . In an attempt to develop drug delivery routes for anticancer agents using lymphatic vessels in the head and neck region, especially beneath the oral mucosa 5-7) , Fujimura et al conducted an investigation of the lymphatic architecture in the head and neck region of experimental animals, and reported the existence of lymphatic vessels in the gingival epithelium 14) .…”

“…Previous studies have described the lymphatic architecture in periodontal tissue, including gingiva, using laboratory animals [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] ; however, none of the studies has investigated human gingiva. In the present study, we observed the morphological characteristics and architecture of clinically healthy gingival tissue obtained by excision during periodontal surgery with the aim of investigating the development of a drug delivery route through the lymphatic vessels for clinical application.…”

The distribution of lymphatic vessels in the periodontal ligament during tooth root formation

“…Previous studies of lymphatic vessels in the oral cavity were conducted using animals such as mice and golden hamsters [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]27) . In the oral cavity of mice, lymphatic distribution of the tongue 7,23) , palatal mucosa 8) , buccal mucosa 9,10) , the inside of the mandibular canal 24) , gingiva 22) and periodontal ligament 21) has been investigated.…”

“…Since then, lymphatic research has advanced rapidly in fields such as lymphatic metastasis of malignant tumors 1,2) and lymphedema [3][4][5][6] . Many researchers have investigated lymphatic vessels in the oral region [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] .…”